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Luxembourg has launched a new golden visa system that grants foreigners and third-country citizens residency permits of five years by stimulating significant investments in the country.
According to Forbes, Luxembourg, with a population of about 600,000, is the world's second-richest nation. Luxembourg is a landlocked Schengen nation bordered by Germany, France, and Belgium. Luxembourg is Europe's smallest nation and one of the three official capitals of the European Union, as well as the site of the European Court of Justice.
Luxembourg is a founding member of the European Union, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and Benelux. Luxembourg, the country's capital and largest city, is home to various European Union organizations and agencies.
The first Schengen agreement was signed in Luxembourg. The Schengen Agreement was initially signed in July 1985 in a small wine-making village in Luxembourg by five countries: Belgium, Germany, France, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands.
With your golden visa you can enjoy the cozy neighborhood of Luxembourg
According to the government, third-country citizens may apply for a residence visa as an investor if they aim to invest in one of the four possibilities listed below:
Invest at least €500,000 ($533,325 USD) in an existing company with a registered office in Luxembourg and commit to staying for at least five years.
Invest at least €500,000 ($533,325 USD) in a new business with a registered office in Luxembourg and at least five work positions within three years of the company's creation. Staff must be recruited in collaboration with the “Agence pour le développement de l'emploi” ADEM.
Invest at least €3 million ($3,199,950 USD) in an existing or yet-to-be-created management and investment structure with a registered office in Luxembourg, where it must have and maintain the necessary finances.
Invest at least €20 million ($21,333,000 USD) in the form of a fund deposit with a Luxembourg-based financial institution, with a commitment to retain the deposit for at least five years. The acquisition of real estate does not qualify investors for a residence permit under this program.
The residence permit for "investors" is valid for three years and is renewed as long as the renewal criteria are satisfied.
The Minister of Economy is in charge of investment initiatives involving:
The Minister of Finance is in charge of analyzing proof of investment of
Relevant content: The Basics Of How To Get A Second Passport Or A Second Residency
Abbey De Neumunster is Luxembourg's postcard
It is possible to apply for permanent residency in Luxembourg after five years of continuous residence.
The duration of the visit is not considered to be interrupted by the following:
Temporary absences of less than six months that do not exceed a total of ten months in five years;
Uninterrupted absences of up to 12 months for important reasons such as pregnancy and delivery, a severe illness, or studies or professional training.
Citizenship in Luxembourg is available after five years of residence and an understanding of the Luxembourgish language. Luxembourg nationality will be revoked for making false claims, concealing material facts, or engaging in fraudulent behaviour during the naturalization process.
Luxembourg's passport is the world's fourth most powerful, granting visa-free travel to 189 countries. With freedom of movement throughout the United Kingdom, Europe, Ireland, and many other countries around the globe. Below are the countries you can travel completely visa-free, though there are many more countries on the list which are visa on arrival and Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA).
Albania |
Andorra |
Armenia |
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Austria |
Bahamas |
Belgium |
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Bolivia |
Bonaire; St. Eustatius & Saba |
Bosnia & Herzegovina |
Botswana |
Brunei |
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Chile |
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Denmark |
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eSwatini |
Falkland Islands |
Faroe Islands |
Fiji |
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Finland |
France |
French Guiana |
French Polynesia |
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Greenland |
Guyana |
Haiti |
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Hong Kong |
Iraq |
Israel |
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Jamaica |
Kazakhstan |
Kiribati |
Kosovo |
Kyrgyzstan |
Laos |
|
Lesotho |
Liechtenstein |
Lithuania |
Macao |
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Micronesia |
Moldova |
Morocco |
Namibia |
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Netherlands |
New Caledonia |
Niue |
North Macedonia |
Norway |
Oman |
Palau Islands |
Palestinian Territory |
Parama |
Poland |
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Qatar |
Reunion |
Samoa |
San Marino |
Sao Tome & Principe |
Senegal |
|
Slovakia |
Slovenia |
Solomon Islands |
South Africa |
South Korea |
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St. Maarten |
St. Vincent & the Grenadines |
Sweden |
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Taiwan |
The Gambia |
Timor-Leste |
Tonga |
Trinidad & Tobago |
Tunisia |
|
Turks & Caicos |
Tuvalu |
Ukraine |
United Kingdom |
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Uzbekistan |
Venezuela |
Vatican City |
Luxembourg has an excellent quality of life for both natives and expats. A genuinely cosmopolitan country with a long history of welcoming international residents, it is an ideal place to live, raise a family, and pursue an international career. Here are some facts about Luxembourg.
Although January and February may be freezing and can dip as low as -15°C (5°F), Luxembourg has a modified continental climate with pleasant winters. The summer months may be pretty warm, with highs of approximately 30°C (86°F) in July and August. All year round, there is a consistent and reasonable amount of rainfall.
The middle of May until the middle of September is the ideal travel period for any vacation in Luxembourg. The most comfortable temperatures and the greatest sunshine of the year are experienced during these months.
Vianden valley in Luxembourg
605,764 people are living in Luxembourg. 52.1% of the population of Luxembourg is made up of Luxembourgers. Portuguese, French, Italian, Belgian, German, Spanish, British, and other ethnicities reside in the nation. The native and official language of Luxembourg is Luxembourgish, and almost everyone speaks it. Other nationals will often speak their native tongue within their homes and with each other.
The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is a parliamentary democracy, constitutional monarchy, and important financial hub. The nation is a founding member of the European Union and the Benelux Economic Union. The Grand Duke of Luxembourg is the head of state through monarchy. The Grand Duke appoints the prime minister as the head of state (usually the most popular voted candidate). In the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg's legislative system, a bill may be proposed by the government or the parliament.
Luxembourg has a strong steel industry
Luxembourg is experiencing strong growth, low inflation, and low unemployment. Once dominated by steel, the industrial sector has expanded to include chemicals, machinery and equipment, rubber, automobile parts, and other goods. The most significant economic sector is the financial industry, which contributes around 36% of the GDP. In terms of GDP per capita, Luxembourg is one of the wealthiest nations in the world.
The public health system in Luxembourg is mandated and provides 98% of the population with universal coverage. You can select any hospital or physician for medical care if you have access to public health insurance. There is a private health sector, but it is primarily supplementary and fills in the reimbursement gap for medical expenses. In Luxembourg, almost 60% of residents choose this extra supplemental mutual insurance. No matter their wealth or social background, all patients are guaranteed equal treatment under the public system. Despite being among the most costly in the world, Luxembourg's healthcare system is also one of the most generous and comprehensive, with several general hospitals and specialized hospitals providing various forms of healthcare.
Luxembourg helthcare is the most generous and the most costly in the world
Those who live in Luxembourg for more than 183 days are considered tax residents. As a result, owning a house in Luxembourg has no tax implications. In terms of taxes, high net-worth individuals may benefit from a variety of tax breaks when they become residents:
No wealth tax.
No inheritance or succession tax (direct line descendants)
The maximum tax rate is 41%.
There is no capital gains tax if the capital gain is less than 10% and held for at least six months.
Withholding tax of 20% on interest received from Luxembourg (flat-rate)
Dividends from Luxembourg are subject to a 15% withholding tax, followed by a regular rate with a 50% allowance.
Life assurance income is tax-free if kept for at least ten years.
17% VAT on motor vehicles
A wide range of treaties to avoid double taxation
There is no CFC law, which implies that Luxembourg citizens are solely taxed on revenue from whatever firm they own in Luxembourg or overseas.
Alternative Investment Fund Managers pay a tax rate of 10.5%.
The Luxembourg Palace is one of the amazing places to visit while there
According to surveys and rankings worldwide, Luxembourg is one of the top 15 nations worldwide, offering the best quality of living. This is attributable to the beautiful scenery, cozy small-town atmosphere, and the nation's safety, political, and economic stability. It also has a great healthcare system for all, both public and private.
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Written by Mikkel Thorup
Mikkel Thorup is the world’s most sought-after expat consultant. He focuses on helping high-net-worth private clients to legally mitigate tax liabilities, obtain a second residency and citizenship, and assemble a portfolio of foreign investments including international real estate, timber plantations, agricultural land and other hard-money tangible assets. Mikkel is the Founder and CEO at Expat Money®, a private consulting firm started in 2017. He hosts the popular weekly podcast, the Expat Money Show, and wrote the definitive #1-Best Selling book Expat Secrets - How To Pay Zero Taxes, Live Overseas And Make Giant Piles Of Money, and his second book: Expats Guide On Moving To Mexico.
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